A beginner’s guide by Brad Campbell
Introduction
I chose to apply to ROTC because of the countless opportunities it provides. ROTC trains practical leadership and perseverance throughout the four years of college. It also provides a full-tuition scholarship (and other stipends), 100% job placement, and the ability for me to utilize my computer skills to benefit our national defense. After graduating, I hope to commission into the Cyberspace sector of the Air Force, where I could lead teams of computer specialists working on a myriad of things. Below I have detailed my experience with the application to both the Air Force and Army National ROTC Scholarship Program. Since I have not gone to college yet, I will only be speaking about the application process for the scholarships, not anything pertaining to accepting the scholarships or commissioning.
Purpose
The Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program has become a significant tool for the U.S. military since getting its start with the National Defense Act of 1916. ROTC is present in over 1,700 colleges and universities nationally, usually used in conjunction with students pursuing their undergraduate degree. With this approach, the prospective soldiers take a weekly class and conduct personal training (PT) exercises with their detachment. They may also engage in community activities and outside training with the group. During the process, the cadets contract to serve for a certain amount of time, usually a 4-year active-duty commitment with a 4-year reserve commitment at minimum. For many students, like myself, the ROTC system can provide much needed scholarship funds.
Before you even begin your application, you must ask yourself two questions. The first: are you willing and able to serve your country for at least four years? The second: are you willing and able to train for your service throughout your four years in college? If you answered yes to both questions, then you are ready to dig deeper into the process. If you answered no, that is okay too! Military service certainly is not the best option for many people, and there are also medical and psychological factors that must be taken into account.
Application Process
The first step of applying to ROTC is figuring out which branch you want to serve in. Family ties and personal experience can weigh heavily on this decision. With my busy senior year, I was only able to apply to the Air Force and Army ROTC (the Navy deadline had already passed when I started). While there is a lot of job overlap between branches, each have their own characteristic specialties: Army and Marines have ground infantry, Navy has everything nautical, Air Force has everything aviation. The ROTC experience of each of these branches appears to be similar in many ways, but differ in their focus with specifics of their own branch. With all branches, there are many opportunities for non-combat positions — notable specialties of the military include engineers, doctors, meteorologists, veterinarians, musicians, and lawyers. You can get more information online about specific positions you are interested in.
Each application portal opens up sometime in the summer before senior year, so you can get ahead by completing elements while school is out. Summer break also gives sufficient free-time to train for the physical assessments by doing daily running and strength training. You want to aim to be within passing limits for all metrics to have the best chance at a scholarship — the fitness test standards can be found on the internet for each branch.
You will need the following to complete all applications: SAT or ACT tests, high school transcript and GPA, personal and parental information, list of intended universities, a specialized list of activities, and leadership positions held both in the school and community. All branches also require their own fitness test that differ slightly, but all of them include a section of push-ups, sit-ups, and distance running. A school gym teacher or coach can administer these tests, and I would recommend training to be within passing ranges on all aspects.
All branches also require an interview with a local detachment. However, each has a different way of handling the process. After applying, Army gives you a list of local Professor of Military Science (PMS) interviewers and their phone numbers within the application portal. You are then responsible for calling and scheduling your interview with the location you see fit. Air Force has the closest detachment contact each applicant through email for their interview. I did both interviews at my nearby state university, just a 25-minute drive down the interstate. I dressed in a suit and tie for both, which I felt was expected by the interviewers.
From what I understand, you are more likely to get a scholarship (or more money) with an earlier boarding (boarding is when they read and decide on your application). Army has 3 boarding periods, which are posted on the login page of the portal. Due to my procrastination, I was forced to wait until April 1st for my Army scholarship to be announced after my application was reviewed on the last board. Third party sources indicate that the Air Force has monthly boarding periods, which was consistent with my experience.
Personal Experiences
Below I have shared my experiences with each branch. These are not indicative of what each applicant will encounter and is isolated to my limited knowledge.
With my Army interview, the facility featured lots of physical training elements, both outdoor and indoor. The interviewer also emphasized asking about my high school athletics (which was hard because I am not a huge athlete). That detachment’s importance on physical elements did not align well with me: I value physical training, but I much prefer more intellectual tasks as a benchmark for progression.
In contrast, my experience at Air Force was very indicative of a culture more similar to mine. My interviewer emphasized my academic accomplishments rather than athletic record, there weren’t any physical training objects in sight, and the officer spent over an hour talking about how my computer science interests could intersect well with the Air Force. Even though the university I interviewed at was a bad fit for me, I still considered going there to be able to stay around my interviewer.
DISCLAIMER: I am not trying to convince anyone to join a particular branch — they are all amazing. I’m simply recollecting my experiences and how those fit with my personality. Each branch fits a different person for a different reason, and that’s the beauty of the system.
In the end, I was proud to receive the top Air Force scholarship (Type-1 for full tuition and fees at any detachment). Air Force also gives money for books and miscellaneous expenses. I also received a 4-year Army scholarship, which paid for tuition to the three schools that offered me. The Army was unique in the fact that it offers its scholarship by school while Air Force offers to go to any school.
Conclusion
Take time to make sure that military service is right for you, this is not a free way to pay for school, ROTC is an efficient gateway to serving your country in an officer position. You need to ask yourself if you’re willing to serve your country for four years, foregoing all opportunities for private sector work until after your service. To aid in your decision, you could get into contact with a current cadet at a local detachment. I wish you luck as you look to the future, and as they say in the Air Force, aim high!
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